Stretcher



Aug- 31, 1943- H. T. ANDERS-ON ETAL STRETGHER Filed March 21, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jar/f9 7. 15224915022 9 H. 'r. ANDERSON z-rrm. 2,328,047

STRETCHER Filed March 21, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Harry ljflzzdemm Gfiaw's opening the joint by the like.

Patented Aug 31, t

typeof stretcher .disclosedxin our Patent No.

t-1,983;889,datedDecember 11, 1934.+

n er glN s q. D avis,Dover, hio' t t A ApplicationMarch g1,1942;.seria n i' iasaos4 Mm", is i t s i .vt jpiailins, (ore-'82 s The invention relates to stretchersfor handling disabled, injured orsick persons and-more particularly to certain'improvementsupon the This type of stretcher comprises generally a tversely of the frame.

Itis an objectof theinvention to provide a stretcheruofx this character in whichthe support-' ing frame is hinged near oneend and separable at: the other end, whereby thej frame maybe i opened and placed around a patient lyingiupon the ground, or :other horizontalv support; the frame being then closed andthesupporting fabricscinserted beneath thepatientso that when the stretcher-is rai'sedthe patient willbesup ported thereon. I 4

or adjustedwto positions at angles. with relation tothe intermediate portion of the frame, so that 3* rframe' upon which are supportedtwo panels or lengths of canvas orsimilar fabric for supporting \the patienty said panels being "separable' from,

each "other and independently Kmovablei trans UNIT D*S T ":i j

spring clanipingmeans for connection to the foot end of'th'e stretcher -whereby a 3 patient may be easily wheeled about by one -person in reith'erqa prone, sittihgorreclinihg position; a t

Another," object of the; invention isthej provi sion of l a pivotal ujoint between sections of the frame inwhicheach member of the jointis provided withsquaredteeth onlyaf'portion or the distance around the memberand in which spring means is-provided'ion separating the members OfHthe joint and a camlocking lever provided for locking or unlocking thejoint ina single movement' 1y. if i v The above objects together'withpther which will be apparentf'rom the drawings andffollowing description, or which .may be later referred :to, may be attainedcby Constructing the improved stretcher in the manner illustrated inthe accompanyingdrawirigsin1which+ t Figure i l is attop' plan view of the stretcheropened 'up'in position to su pDOrt a patient lying full length; a 1

Q 'Fig. 3, agfra'gmentary section on a lar ger scale '3 "showingone oi the adiustable'straps at theend the patient may assume a natural sitting posi f tion with the back supported 'at the desired angle L and the legs flexed at. the knee joints and hang ing downward in any :desiredpositionj Afurtherobject is the provision of provided with means for quickly lockingthe sectionsin any desired adjustment andfor' instantly a single movement of th IOCklIlgllGYQIQI i i g A -stiil further object of the invention is the stretched A still further object ofthe improvement is the provision of ball casters upon the head end of the stretcher for convenience in placing a patientt'in' orwremoving him from an ambulance or Another object isthe provision of roundedcornersupon the rectangular frame of the stretcher v I in place of the protruding'handles dis closedin our prior patent. t t 1 l I j still further object of the inventio n 'is the provisioniof'a detachable, wheeled truck with a'novel form of pivotal jointbetween sections of the frame of the stretcher, taken'a's on the line 3+3; Fig? 1; i 1 Figlf4', a f-ragrrientary bottom plan View of one "cornerof the stretcher showin one of the adjustableendstrapSi Fig 5, a fragrnentary plan section on an errlarged scaleshowing the separable joint at the .Qhead end of the stretcher frame andthelatch for holdingjth'ejqint normally in closed position; Fig} 6; a sect'ion onan enlarged scale throughone of thepivotal joints of" the stretcher frame Fig. 9, "a fragmentary top plan view of end" of 'heCstretcher showinggtheldetachable wheeled truckpand H t s perspective] view of the endportion of one of the transverse straps show-t Fig. '7, a section taken as on the line l, n Fig.6; i a

Fig. 8, a sideelevati'on'of the stretcher showing t the sameinposition for holding a patientrina sitting position; and showing the detachable wh eeled truck mounted thereon, transforming the i stretcher into a wheel chair;

wheeledtruck attached thereto;

Fig. l 0t,"a side elevation'fof the foot .endfportion I offthe stretcher and ivvhee'leci truck shown in a rrdht elev t or t e detachable s. .1 3; an eni'argedt n t er pocket thereon.

the fo ot i t gitudinal movement thereof, the other end por Similar numerals refer to similar parts 7 throughout the drawings.

In the embodiment of the inventionillustrated, the stretcher includes a rectangular frame made of tubular metalmembers, each side of the frame being formed of three sections comprising a head 7 section 15, extending from the head end of the frame to the middle thereof, an intermediate section i6 extending from the middlejof the frame toa point substantially halfway between the middle and'foot end of the frame and a foot section 11, the contiguous ends of these sever-a1 7 sections having novel pivotal joints formed 7 thereon with means for looking or clamping them in any desired adjusted position. v The contiguous ends of the tubularjsectionjs l5, I6, and I! have inserts l8 fixed therein and provided with flattened ears l9 provided with interengaging, squared teeth 20, adapted to be engaged and locked in various adjusted positions to hold the frame sections in thedesired relative positions to support a patient; in -prone, reclining or sitting posit-ion. y i A'pivot boltrZl fextendsthrough;the-intermigaging e'ars I 9 of the joint an'cl a cam lever 22 is pi'ovidedu ponone end of the bolt and cooperates with the headildupon theioppos'ite end thereof :forlocking the joint inad'justedipo-sition as. shown in Figs. 1, 2,-1'and'8.

For the purpose 'of'iseparat'in'g the ears "H! to permitadjustmntrbf the .joint,.when the "cam lever 2 2I'is released, the opposed faces of the ears l9 are recessed as at '24 to house acoil spring 25 located around the bolt-2i and arranged to sepcam leyerwls'. released.

r t. h-it eugh the teeth so extend 'on-lyx'aportion of the distance aroundeach ear. li9 -it will be seen that there are sufficientfte'eth 'upon each ear so that one cr'more teeth are engaged'wi'th teeth of the booperatingiearpin an'ydes'ired adjusted position of the frame, and since these .teeth are squared-and of substantial dime'nsiondafigid joint is provided in any possible adjusted .posi

tion.

Each gfoot section H- is icurve'd as aty z 'fipa t thefoot end of the fr'ame and terminating "op,- v

posed ends thereof are ;rig-idly joined together as at 2 forming afoot rail -28. ,In li'keiimanner each head section [5 is curved as at 126a-and the terminating opposed ends are detachably connected together as at 25 previding -a separable joint inthe head rail 38 thus formed.

,rt wiu be seen'that with; thisconstructioh-the grips for manually carrying the stretcher. V

For the purpose of sliding the stretcher into or out of an ambulance or the like casters may 'beprovided; preferably th'elform ofthe ball casters i3lflocated on the underside of the frame upon the floor of the ambulance.

near the head end thereof and adapted to roll 'Ihelatchiil for normally locking the contigudds ends of 'the'h'ead rail '30 together'to close the separable joint inlay be of any suitable and well known design. Thejform of-latch shown is 'illllls't'l'iated in detail Fig. 5 and cbns islisjo f 110llowccy lindric inserts 31 and '32, located, within the opposed ends of the tubular frame sections and handlesatthe corners of the frame in ourc prior .p'atentiare dispensed withsand the curved corners I26 and 25a of theframe'form adequate hand i tion of the spindle being screw threaded as 36 to engage the internal screw threads 31-inthe A hinge joint 33 is formed at the opposite end of the frame, preferably in one of the tubular foot sections 17 adjacent to the foot rail 28. When the latch '29 is operated tov unlock the sections of the head rail 30 the frame may be opened by means of the hing joint 38 in a manner and for a purpose to be later described. f

.A pair of align rods 39 maybe connected to the frame near the head end thereof, the outer ends at said rods bein rigidly connected to the side portions of the sections i5 while inner ends i of 'the-rods-are outturned as at 40 and rigidly connected to the head rail al en opposite sides of the center joint thereof. Similar rods 39 are I conhectedto the foot'e'nd'of't'he frame. v v

' Apairvof similar rectang'ular' panels 41 formed Of'Ca'nV'as orother suitable material, are attached to'the frame and form a'support' for the patient; Each of these panels is substantially one-half the widthof the frame and of:-a length substantially the same :as the frame and hasits outer edge connected to the adjacent side of. the frame as by i the spaced tubular portions 42 formed atthe edge of the panel'and locatedaround the adjacent side portion of the frame. These panels'are separable from eachi'other transversely ofi'th'eeframe and are provided with means for cconnecting'their end portions to the opposite sends 0f the frame This means is preferablyii-i *theiorm of adjustable straps 43, con- 1 'ne'cte'd' to"oppbsit"e ends of the panels G l as by rivets 2 and aloop'ed over the rods 39, buckles 4'5 ,being providedupon the straps for adjusting the tension upon the same.

These looped straps are slidable upon the rods 1 '39. asth'epanels' 4| are moved lateral-ly'of the frame when a patient is placed upon the stretcher; For "the purpose of supporting the me er edge portions or the panels "41 transverse lstra'p's :fltfare riveted/or otherwise connected to the undersuriface of each panel, each strap extending. across the other panel and provided at its end-with =a grommet or similar apertured device 41 adapted to bedet'achably engaged with pins 58 upon the "side portions of the -frame.

, lWhen these straps are connected as shown at Fig. 1 th'eyv 'serve to hold the panels in the position shown and prevent them from separating fi'omea'chbth'er through the longitudinal center of'the stretcher. 7 a v j c For the purpose of easilythreadingthe tra nsverse straps it beneath the body of the patient a ndattaching them to the pins 48-, a-finger pocket l-J, formed er leather, fa loric or other suitable material, may be attached to the outer "end of each strain is so that the same ay be guided beneath the body of the patientby inserting a finger inthe pocket. '7 I I, i

- With the stretcher in thee'xtend'ed position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2; the patient may be car- .ried in prone position. However, if desired either one or both of the hinged joints IQ on either side of the frame may be operated to adjust the sectidhs 1'5, re; ah-dlil 'of the frame relative to l'ea'dhbther'tb ca'r r'y th'e patient in a reclining or "s'itting position. i v I In Fig. 8, the frame is shown adjusted so that "I? a patient may 'be' cai-rie'd in a sitting position wheeled truck shown in Figs. 8 to 11,-inc1usiVe,

may be attached to the foot end of the stretcher.

As shown in Fig. 8 this truck is attached to the stretcher when adjusted for carrying the patient in a sitting position thus converting the stretcher into awheel chair. v

This truck comprises a frame 50 having depending U-shape brackets 5! at opposite ends Supporting an axel 52 upon which are journaled the rubber tired wheels 53. r

The truck is provided with two spring clamps 54 for engaging over the foot rail 28 and two spring clamps 55 for engaging over the sides of the frame sections I1 thus frictionally attaching the truck to the stretcher frame and providing for easily and readily attaching or detaching the truck as desired.

When it is necessary to use the stretcher to pickup a patient lying prone upon the ground,

or other horizontal surface, the straps 46 are disconnected from the pins 48, the latch 29 is released and the opposite sides of the frame are swung open upon the hinge joint 38. The end straps 43 are slidably moved outward upon the rods 39 permitting the panels 4| to be moved laterally of the frame. 4 i

The frame is then placed on the ground around the patient and moved back to closed position and locked by means of the latch 29. The straps 46 are then threaded beneath the patients body and engaged with the studs 48 and the patient will be supported entirely upon the panels '4! permitting the stretcher to be picked up by means of the frame and the patient carried thereon.

pivoting that side of the frame away from the other side of the frame, a separable joint inthe other end of the frame and latch means for normally closing the separable joint.

3. A stretchercomprising a rectangular frame, i

rods connected to the frame near each end thereof, supporting panels extending longitudinally of the frame and terminating near each end thereof, members connected to said panels near their ends and slidably engaging said rods whereby the panels may be moved laterally in opposite directions, means attaching the outer end of each panel to the adjacent side of the frame, transverse straps connected to the inner edgeo'f each panel, means for connecting the ends of the transverse straps to the opposite side of the frame, and a finger cup upon the end portion of each transverse strap.

4. In a stretcher, a frame comprising a head section extending from the head end to approximately the middle of the frarnaan intermediate section and a foot section, means for pivotally connecting the contiguous ends of thesections together, means for adjustably holding the sections at different positions of adjustment and patient supporting panels carried by the frame, and a detachable wheeled truck connected to the foot end of the frame and curved clamping springs upon the truck for frictionally engaging over the foot end of the frame for detachably connecting the truck to the foot end of the frame.

5. In a stretcher, a frame comprisinga head section extending from the head end to approxi I mately the middle of the frame, an intermediate of the panels to the sides of the frame, a hinge joint at one end of the frame said hinge joint forming a means for laterally pivoting one side of the frame away from the other side of the frame, a separable joint at the other end of the frame and latch means for normally closing the separable joint.

2. A stretcher comprising a rectangular frame,

1 supporting panels elongated longitudinally of the frame and separable one from the other at the center of the frame, means connected to the ends of the panels and slidably supported upon the ends of the frame, means for connecting the sides of the panels to the sides of the frame, a hinge.

joint in one side of the frame near one end thereof said hinge joint forming a means for laterally section and afoot section, means for pivotally connecting the contiguous ends of the sections to gether, means for adjustably holding the sections at different positions of adjustment and patient supporting panels carried by the frame, a wheeled truck, and spring clamping means for detachably connecting the truck to the foot end of the frame.

6. In a stretcher, a frame comprisin a head section extending from the head end to approximately the middle of the frame, an intermediate section and a foot section, means for pivotally connecting the contiguous ends of the sections together,,means for adjustably holding the sections at different positions of adjustment. and patient supporting panels carried by the frame, and casters upon the underside of the head section of the frame, a wheeled truck, and spring clampingmeans for detachably connecting the truck to the foot end of the frame.

"l. A stretcher comprising a rectangular frame, supporting panels elongated longitudinally of the frame and connected thereto, .a wheeled truck.

and spring clamping means upon the truck for detachably connecting the truck to one end of the frame.

HARRY. T; ANDERSON. EDGAR C. DAVIS.. 

